Chapitre 39: Chapter 39 (edited)
Over the past year, Kara Kent had fully integrated into life at the Daily Planet.
It had been four years since she completed her journey around the world, and now, her days were consumed by her work as a columnist. The Daily Planet wasn't a paper dedicated solely to covering Superman's feats—it had a wide variety of stories and features that made it a renowned publication. Among these, Kara's column had risen to become one of the paper's biggest attractions since her first piece was published.
Kara had amassed a dedicated fanbase. Many readers were so captivated by her storytelling and perspectives that they would gather at the Planet's entrance, some even holding signs begging her to write more frequently—perhaps even daily. Her vivid portrayals of the world's beauty enchanted them, providing a rare and intimate lens into places few would ever visit.
One article described her time in the Arctic. She painted a picture of polar bears leading their cubs across glaciers in search of food under the shimmering northern lights. The accompanying photographs she included—such as one of a mother bear guiding her two young cubs—went viral. It sparked widespread fascination with the northern lights, although Kara offered safer alternatives for travelers to witness the spectacle without risking a trip to the North Pole itself.
In another article, she described her climb to the summit of Mount Everest, capturing its breathtaking, snow-covered peaks piercing the clouds. Kara's firsthand account of the perilous journey—and the stunning photographs she took—proved how far she was willing to go to capture the beauty of the world. Her authenticity and courage struck a chord with readers, cementing her reputation as one of the Daily Planet's most prominent writers.
Her work kept her so busy that Kara nearly forgot about her other identity. Her days at the Planet were fulfilling, and her career was thriving. With the royalties from her articles, she could soon sign a formal contract with the newspaper. Everything seemed to fall into place effortlessly.
Kara had carved out a routine for herself. She reserved one day each week to visit her adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, back in Smallville. With Clark preparing to leave for college, Kara worried that her parents might feel lonely. Occasionally, Martha would come to Metropolis to spend the weekend with Kara, filling her apartment with warmth, homemade meals, and that familiar chaos only a loving mother could bring. Despite being 28, Kara never missed an opportunity to act like a playful child when her mother was around.
Kara's friendships had also grown stronger. She frequently spent time with Jennifer Walters, the sharp-witted prosecutor, and Dani Moonstar, whose self-reliant and adventurous spirit mirrored Kara's own. They often grabbed drinks together after work, and though their nights out occasionally involved unwanted attention, both Jennifer and Dani had picked up self-defense skills, much to Kara's amusement and relief.
Everything seemed perfect. Clark had been accepted into Metropolis University and was preparing to follow in his sister's footsteps. Kara had already decided to have him move into her apartment rather than a dormitory—there was plenty of room, and she cherished the thought of them sharing a home again.
But her plans were soon interrupted by unexpected news: Bruce Wayne, who had been missing for seven years and presumed dead, had returned to Gotham.
The announcement spread like wildfire, plastered across newspapers and television screens. The Daily Planet ran the story in that afternoon's edition.
For Kara, this wasn't shocking. Bruce had called her the night before, casually mentioning his impending return. Her only response had been to roll her eyes, call him "crazy," and hang up. Their relationship was friendly but far from close. She saw no reason to make a big deal out of his homecoming.
However, later that day, Perry White, the Daily Planet's new editor-in-chief, called her into his office.
Perry's promotion had been unsurprising to Kara. Beyond discovering talents like her, he had an impressive track record of mentoring promising journalists and expanding the paper's reach. Kara respected his dedication to his craft. But as she stepped into his office, she knew he wasn't calling her in just to chat.
"Have a seat," Perry said, gesturing to a chair. Kara, already sitting, smirked knowingly.
Without preamble, Perry began, "How's next week's column coming along? I'd love to take a look—I'm a big fan, after all."
Kara raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Seriously? I just turned in this week's column yesterday, and now you're asking about next week? What do you think I am, a machine?"
Perry chuckled awkwardly, but Kara wasn't fooled. She narrowed her eyes. "All right, spill it. What's this really about?"
Perry cleared his throat. "Fine. You caught me. Kara, you and Bruce Wayne were classmates, right? With him back in Gotham, this is the biggest story of the year. I want you to do an exclusive interview with him."
Kara's expression darkened. "You want me to go to Gotham? Absolutely not. That city's a disaster zone." She crossed her arms again, leaning back in defiance.
Perry sighed. "Come on, Kara. This is a golden opportunity! You have a connection to him. You can get an angle no one else can."
"Nope," Kara said firmly. "I'm not setting foot in Gotham, Perry. Find someone else."
The editor-in-chief leaned back, rubbing his temples. He knew convincing Kara to go to Gotham wouldn't be easy, but this story could catapult the Daily Planet to new heights—and only she had the rapport to pull it off.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone